VIDEO: Chris Cannon, MD Talks 2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol Guidelines

Christopher Cannon, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, talks with DocWire News about the new American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2018 guideline on the management of blood cholesterol. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have released their latest 121 page guidelines on risk assessment and management of high cholesterol for people who are at a greater risk of heart attacks or stroke. The guidelines were presented recently at the American Heart Association 2018 Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

Along with key updates about lifestyle modifications, coronary artery calcium scores and PCSK9 usage, the new guidelines state that initial approach to raised cholesterol is changes in lifestyle following which, if uncontrolled, drugs are added. Statins are the staple cholesterol-lowering drugs and are safe and effective in reducing heart disease risk. These guidelines state that among people who have had a heart attack or a stroke, mere statins alone is not enough. Newer cholesterol lowering drugs need to be added to their daily regimen.

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